Monday, July 31, 2023
The morning is sun and blue sky and the tent wet with dew.
The air is brisk and invigorating. It feels great.
The camping is mostly still asleep, so I take advantage and shower leasurely.
On a folding chair in the sun I read my email and catch up with the world.
Once the others are awake we eat a quick corn-flakes breakfast, because we must return to Reykjavik to get our cooking pans.
Those of you who know me can imagine all the doom scenarios I imagine: first they charge us the cost for replacing the pans, then they charge us again for renting them. Anyway, you can imagine my worries.
We leave the camp in place and head south again. The sun is marvellous and shines on the steep black mountain sides, the white waterfalls, later the green meadows and the sea. And finally we enter the city again.
In the rental shop I tell my story, and to me great relief the girl replies: ‘okay, let me get a set for you.’
She gives us the pans and wishes us a nice day. How wonderful that honesty and trust still exist. Our western society is still based on it.
With our equipment now complete, we head back north to the Eldborg mountain, where there is a hiking trail.
It’s remarkable how quickly our attitude towards the landscape changes. We now drive this stretch of road for the third time. The first time we were so excited. Cameras were clicking non stop. Now we lean back and talk casually while the landscape rolls by.
Finally we reach the starting point of our hike. It’s a large parking lot next to a small river, doubling as a camping.
We park the car, eat some sandwiches and start our walk.
The trail starts along the small river, almost a brook and leads through fields of lava. The land is mostly grass, except some areas with bushes. Places covered more recently with lava are completely bare. Debris of red brown porous stones cover the ground.
We see our destination already in the distance. A relatively small volcano, easy to recognize by its classic shape and visisible cone.
The path gradually moves higher until we reach the Elgborg. There a path including steps have been created in the bare mountain side. It goes up steeply and near the top some metal hand rails provide extra support.
We make it up, and stand on the crater’s edge, looking into a rather deep but dry and vegetationless crater. The volcano is dormant and is cold.
Around us we can look far over the flat landscape. In the distance large bare mountains rise up much higher.
The air is cool, but even here is not much wind. We talk with a young Australian couple, until it’s time to start the return trip. Strange how it makes me a bit sad.
On the descend we pass a mini volcano and circle its crater. Then we follow the path again through the lava fields until we reach the car again. Very satisfied feeling. Especially with the crisp cool air.
In many places the volcanic landscape reminds me of the Galápagos Islands. But the temperature is much cooler.
We return to the campground where Sisi cooks pasta di mare: spaghetti with fish and shrimp in the common kitchen.
Afterwards we sit in our camp until it becomes too cold. The others are already in bed. I finish this journal with stiff fingers.
Sleep well my friend.
Roy
2023-08-01
Like allways: beautyful photo's!